Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-02-04
DYNAMITE ON THE SEA.
An Explosion in a Vessels Cabin and
the Steamer Compelled TO Return.
The Cause Said to Have Originated
From the New York Strikes.
the War on the Docks.

NEW YORK, Feb. ,. When the Old Dominion
Line steamer Wyandotte was off Long
Island Branch this evening there was an
explosion of dynamite in the after cabin.
A hole fifteen feet square was the result,
and the vessel was damaged so badly as
TO be compelled to return to New York.
1t Is thought the explosion was the work
of some of the strikers.
Captain D. A. Kelly, of the Guyandotte,
says the hole made by the explosion is in
the deck and side. He thinks two or
three passengers were slightly hurt, and
passenger and a cclored waiter named
Justine were seriously injured. The cap
tam says that just before the steamer
started on the trip man about thirty
five years old was seen to enter the water
/ closet and afterward leave the boat Just
as the gang plank was pulled in. He
left an empty sachel behind. and it is be-
ieved that it had contained dynamite.
Thomas McGrath, of the board of ar
bitration of the strikers district assem-
bly, of the Knights of Labor, was arrest
ed by United States Marshal Smith to-
day, at the instance of the Old Dominion
Steamship Company. HIS attorneys had
made arrangements for giving bail at
efforts to bring them to time in this way
They say that no matter how many of
them are arrested bail will be promptly
furnished, and the fight will be all the
more determined on account of the un-
looked for tactics of the Old Dominion
Company.
All was quiet on rhe wharves when work
began along the North river this morn
ing. Groups of the striking longshere-
men stood on the corners watching the
new hands at the docks where steamers
were lying. Small forces of green hands
were added to the number obtained last
week and not few of the non union men
lately engaged failed to put in an appear
anee. Asked about this an official of the
Iongshoremen's Union said: "a good
many of the new men put to work last
week are what we call dock rangers
who catch an odd job when they feel like
1t, but don't stick to anything in partcu-
lar
simultaneously, at 10 O'Clock, at the
railroad piers, committee or three of
the freight handlers presented themselves
to the manager or agent and made de-
mand for higher wages. The speciica-
tions of this demand are that for days
work of ten hours or less they shall re-
ceiye 81, and that for all overtime and
Sunday work they shall be paid 26 cents
an hour; that if called out at a. m. on
holidays, and the work should prove to
be of two or three hours, it shall be called
half days work, and that payments
shall be made twice a month. The
rate the men are now getting is II
cents an hour, and they have steady work
so that they can earn on an average of
$50 month. The men request an ans
wer by noon tomorrow.
The officers of the coal companies who
are making desperate efforts to carp on
business with green hands still maintain
a bold front. They say they are not
alarmed at the threats of District Assem-
bly, 49 of the Knights of Labor to further
extend the strike by calling out the men
on the elevated road and all the other
men employed by large consumers of
COAL notably of gas companies. The fire
at the Cromwell pier Saturday has alarm
ed shippers, and now the determination
is to clear off the docks as quickly as
possible. Cargoes of cotton and oil that
have accumulated on piers are being
transferred to lighters and removed.
The strike of the 1ongshoremen and
coal handlers along the river front of
Brooklyn still continues. There has been
no disturbance whatever. Brooklyn suf-
feis for coal 1t is said that the regular
demand will exhaust the supply by
Wednesday. Already some of the small
er yards are empty. Wholesale dealers
are for the most part as badly off as the
retailers, consequently the small yards
are closed.
The Star says that there will be added
to the list of strikers tomorrow the
brakemen, trackmen, machinists, car
penters, painters, and other mechanics
employed ON the Pennsylvania railroad
New York division) and the New Jersey
Central railroad belonging to District
Assembly, No. 40, K. of L. On some di
visions of these roads no men will be at
work except the conductors, engineers
and firemen.